Advanced Program

The crème de la crème, our advanced immersion program has been the core of our company for nearly 30 years. Designed to achieve maximum fluency, the advanced program provides a rewarding and memorable experience by allowing students to take classes in any field of study in French alongside French students in the Parisian university system.

Courses

APA Paris has partnered with 10 Parisian universities and institutions of higher learning to provide a broad network of instruction for students with any major. Universities and their courses offered have been carefully screened by APA so that students are taking the highest quality classes available. Students generally take classes at the second year level but may choose to take some at the third year (license) level or fourth year (masters) level. Available to APA students is a one-week add/drop period to choose courses that correspond best to their needs and interests.

The French academic calendar runs from September to mid-May and includes a one-week fall break in October, a two-week Christmas break, a one-week winter break in February, and a one-week spring break in April.

Take your pick

Students enroll in 4 courses (with an optional 5th course) per semester. Students may choose a combination of classes from the following:

Course Credit

At the end of each semester, APA sends to each student’s home institution a:

Transcript: Includes credit hours, French grades and their American equivalents

Professor’s evaluation including a detailed report of the grades earned in each course

Course descriptions and bibliographies

Student’s academic schedule

Support

Adjusting to not only a new method of teaching but a way of life can be overwhelming even for the most experienced student. APA provides academic and logistical support in order to maximize your stay in Paris.

Language Support

Weekly individual language support: This customized language support starts during orientation with a language evaluation. Based on the results, students will be assigned to one of our French language professors. Each week throughout the semester, students meet with their professor individually or in pairs for 30-45 minutes and separately with their teaching assistant for one hour working on oral expression and other noted areas for improvement.

Academic Support

Cours complémentaire: For each class that has at least three APA students enrolled, APA creates an additional course called a “cours complémentaire” or extra tutorial session. In most cases, this is taught by the same instructor teaching the class. These courses help students bridge the gap between the French and American educational systems and meets on a regular basis, usually every two weeks.

Methodology workshops

Course-specific tutoring sessions

Proofreading sessions to review and edit a paper prior to handing it in

On-Site Support

Airport pickup upon arrival

Unlimited metro pass for Paris and suburbs

Unlimited museum pass for all national museums, including the Louvre

Outside-of-the-classroom assistance: Help securing a French cell phone, finding a doctor, or opening a bank account

Housing

Continue to customize your stay in Paris with your housing choice: hand-selected home stays or choose a more independent approach with a French student residence or apartment.

Option 1: Homestay with a daily breakfast and five dinners per week

Option 2: Homestay with a daily breakfast and three dinners per week

Option 3: Independent living in a French student residence or apartment

Explore

Each week, students receive tickets to performances in some of the most prestigious and world-renowned venues in Paris including the: Opéra, Comédie Française, Théâtre de Chaillot, Philharmonie, Théâtre de la Ville, Théâtre des Champs Élysées, etc. This is typically 12-13 shows per semester.

NEW!

A cooking workshop has been added to our cultural line up for the Fall 2017 semester! Learn how to prepare a classic French meal in a city known for its culinary treats.

In addition, APA takes students on exclusive trips to visit some of the major historical and cultural sites of France.

Day trips

• Fall: Versailles, Fontainebleau & Chartres

• Spring: Versailles, Fontainebleau & Giverny

Weekend Excursions

• Fall: Burgundy & Normandy

• Spring: St. Malo, Mont St. Michel & the Loire Valley

Participate

For further immersion and integration into French life, APA offers students the opportunity to:

Pair up with a French student for the semester who is also interested in cultural exchange.

Join an intramural sports team, dance troupe, choir, or other clubs

Become a volunteer assistant in an elementary or high school, helping the teacher or providing English conversation classes two to four hours per week

Volunteer in a non-profit organization

Intern

Students studying for the academic year or spring semester with APA have the opportunity to extend their stay by participating in an internship with our partner program, Internships in Francophone Europe (IFE).

Students choosing this option complete a two month, full-time professional summer internship following their time with APA.